I have a 250 and 500 gallon decommissioned tanks that a friend and I were going to make a trailer pit out of.
Well, 5+ years later we haven't found the time and his wife is tired of looking at them.
Just seeing if anyone on here has any interest in them before they go on Craigslist.

Any advice on how to price them, online prices are all over the place.

If you've already had them 5 years, start high, and slowly lower it unless you get a reasonable offer.

I would check the tank weights and then start somewhere between $.25-$.50 a pound (and/or adjust to current steel pricing). I think I paid around $.60 for new pipe when I built minebut that was 5 years ago.

Just for reference, when I used to buy them from the propane companies, I paid 75.00 to 100.00. I have just about quit using them though. I try to use new steel now, old tanks take a lot of work just to get them cleaned up.

Do you have the accessories?

the pit man said:

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Just for reference, when I used to buy them from the propane companies, I paid 75.00 to 100.00. I have just about quit using them though. I try to use new steel now, old tanks take a lot of work just to get them cleaned up.

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Did you do anything to them before cutting into them? I've had one for probably 10 years that I've been planning to make a pit out of. I had it in the shop, filled it with water, emptied it and was about to start cutting into it, and my BIL, who was a welder, talked me out of cutting into it. He didn't think water was good enough. He seemed pretty adamant, and when I weighed the risk/reward, I just moved onto the next project

I've seen videos/read where guys keep it filled with water (and kept it full) and use abrasive saws rather than torches.

Edit: If I were doing one, I'd flush it out with water completely 1-2 times, fill it up, and then leave the hose going to keep it full--and then go to town with a hand grinder with cutoff wheel. Once the water spills out and a few sparks are introduced, I'd probably have enough confidence to let it drain out and keep going. But, that's just what I'd do.

schmellba99 said:

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I'm curious to know why he didn't think filling them up with water to displace any leftover gas was good enough.

Last I checked, water was not flammable or explosive in most normal cases.

I suppose you could get a CO2 or Argon or Helium tank and fill it with inert gas to add as insurance, but if you filled it with water, you should be good.

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He may have been in just extreme CYA mode because he didn't want to be responsible for anything that happened to family, but at the time he said something about the metal being semi-porous or having pits in it that has trapped residual gas. In my mind, it had sat in the Texas direct sun for years and a water rinse should have been good enough, if there is gas in there it wouldn't be enough to blow up anything. You brought up a good point, I do have a N2 generator that can pump 32L/min. 500 gallons of helium or argon would still be pretty pricey, but a N2 generator may be a suitable solution, the compressors on it are capable of getting to 150 psi.

Yall are just being extra cautious. Filling it with water it serious overkill.

DeWrecking Crew said:

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the pit man said:

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Just for reference, when I used to buy them from the propane companies, I paid 75.00 to 100.00. I have just about quit using them though. I try to use new steel now, old tanks take a lot of work just to get them cleaned up.

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Did you do anything to them before cutting into them? I've had one for probably 10 years that I've been planning to make a pit out of. I had it in the shop, filled it with water, emptied it and was about to start cutting into it, and my BIL, who was a welder, talked me out of cutting into it. He didn't think water was good enough. He seemed pretty adamant, and when I weighed the risk/reward, I just moved onto the next project

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I take all the valves out, fill with water and a bit of liquid dish washing soap, leave for a couple of days, then with the water still inside I make a cut with a plasma cutter. After the 1st cut I let the water out and continue cutting. I've done a lot like this with out any problem.

Can you post pictures of them? I might be interested.

schmellba99 said:

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I'm curious to know why he didn't think filling them up with water to displace any leftover gas was good enough.

Last I checked, water was not flammable or explosive in most normal cases.

I suppose you could get a CO2 or Argon or Helium tank and fill it with inert gas to add as insurance, but if you filled it with water, you should be good.

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Most industrial procedures for safely doing hot work on vessels that previously had flammable or combustible material inside use multiple purges with nitrogen or water or both, depending on the vessels intended use and capability of draining water out. Then keep some type of blanket (water or gas) and or high volume ventilation fans throughout the process. Quite a few companies have switched over to using water jet cutters for these types of work to avoid sparks and the need for multiple purges. These type operations occur on the regular in refineries, offshore production, and onshore oil & gas......not sure why it wouldn't be safe for an old empty propane tank.

Note: for those looking for ideas, make sure if you do any work with nitrogen it is in a very well ventilated area, as it can and will displace oxygen and could cause you to lose consciousness and or die!!! The other gases mentioned can be hazardous to your health as well.

We typically will let em sit in the pasture for a while with all the valves, plugs, and what not removed, and then build a pretty good bonfire around them. Seems to work pretty well and haven't had any issues. Used to fill them water and baking soda and dish soap and who knows what else, but you could still hear some popping on the inside from time to time.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow outlaw

Aaron Franklin did a build on his PBS show, just put a bunch of dawn in and fillies with water. Kept the water running while he cut with a grinder.

You can email me if that is easier.

Cisco dot kschumann @ Gmail

What's the need for adding dishwashing soap and/or baking soda to the water?

Helps to neautralize the flammable chemicals

Where are these tanks located?

Aaron franklin did a series on pbs (I think that was the network) where he made pits form propane tanks. You can find them online.

They are in Bryan.

Salvage tanks with sizes & prices

Ran across this website looking for scrap/salvage tanks for a smoker build. They run $0.50/gallon or less, but they're also a long ways away in Kingfisher, OK (NW of OKC). Not too bad a drive for those of us in Dallas/Ft. Worth, but you would definitely need to factor mileage costs from anywhere south of here.

DeWrecking Crew said:

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the pit man said:

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Just for reference, when I used to buy them from the propane companies, I paid 75.00 to 100.00. I have just about quit using them though. I try to use new steel now, old tanks take a lot of work just to get them cleaned up.

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Did you do anything to them before cutting into them? I've had one for probably 10 years that I've been planning to make a pit out of. I had it in the shop, filled it with water, emptied it and was about to start cutting into it, and my BIL, who was a welder, talked me out of cutting into it. He didn't think water was good enough. He seemed pretty adamant, and when I weighed the risk/reward, I just moved onto the next project

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That's just typical BIL interaction. You are treading into his expertise and so he needed to school you up and shut you down. You can bet he probably told the rest of the family how he saved your butt because you were about to blow yourself up.

I think we've all been in your shoes and have enjoyed these wonderful family dynamics. I'd tell him to just "stay in the truck" and you'll get it done.

Did you decide on a price? I'm going to be in Bryan next week and would be interested in the 250... But would also like to know if you have any way to lift it to load in my pickup?

I reckon I can hook a chain to a fence post and drive out from under it to unload ... Best guess says it's 500#...

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Aaron Franklin did a build on his PBS show, just put a bunch of dawn in and fillies with water. Kept the water running while he cut with a grinder.

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Yes it was very informative. Soapy water is the way to go and just leave it in while you cut. Once it is vented good and proper from the first opening it's good to go.

did someone mention checking it with a gas monitor before cutting. 0 LEL is good

It always blows my mind when someone welds on a pipeline that is carrying natural gas (that is, not shut off and purged). I understand why it doesn't ignite the gas (not enough oxygen in the line), but it still blows my mind.

Also welding on pipelines carrying oil and fuels including gasoline.